BRATTON village green provided the ideal setting for Bratton Silver Band’s annual Picnic in the Park concert earlier this month Saturday July 6.

The Training Band under the direction of Musical Director Mark Gundry performed a varied programme including classical favourites, traditional brass band music, musicals and popular music.

They included the Lost Chord and music by Mozart as well as featuring music from the musical Mamma Mia and and a James Bond movie.

The second half of the concert was led by Musical Director Simon Carr and included music from the Beatles, Madness and Queen.

In appreciation, the audience donated to the band’s chosen worthy causes: Jacob’s Ladder, a not-for-profit community organisation that supports children and young adults with special needs, and CLIC providing emotional, practical and financial support for young cancer patients and their families.

As part of the evening events, an exhibition of the band’s 160 year history was held in Bratton Pavilion.

This included band photographs from the late 19th and early 20th century and a wide range of newspaper cuttings, programmes, posters and other memorabilia.

They included photos of band member , Vic Beer, who first performed with the band in the 1950s and featured in many past photos and newspaper cuttings as Musical Director of the band.

One band member said: “Enjoyed looking through it all with my boys who were 'Vic spotting' in all the band photos.”

Bratton Silver Band has recently been awarded funding from the Arts Council National Lottery Project Fund and from the Brass Band England Norman Jones Trust Fund towards its160th Anniversary Project to commission a piece of music about the ‘lost village’ of Imber near Bratton.

As part of the exhibition, visitors took part in the activity ‘Imber-from Photography to Music’ and contributed their ideas for the composer Christopher Bond.

He has been chosen for his experience in composing music reflecting the atmosphere and history of memorable events and places.

The Imber from Photography to Music experience will also be an activity in which visitors to Bratton Art in the Gardens can participate on Saturday, July 20.